Java Lectures
Java Lectures
Java Introduction
Java, an object-oriented programming language, was developed initially by James Gosling and colleagues at Sun
Microsystems. It was initially called Oak (named after the oak trees outside Gosling’s Office.
Characteristics of Java
The Java programming language is a high level language that can be characterized by all of the following:
Simple
Java is one of the more simple languages. The language will seem very familiar to a C or C++ programming,
because Java’s syntax is similar. However, Java was fewer constructs than most traditional programming languages,
including C, C++, and Visual Basic.
Object Oriented
Java does not have stand alone function, unlike C and C++, but only method associated with a class.
Everything (except for the built-in primitive types) is either a class, method, or an object. Extensive class library comes
with java, to interface with the host operating system, window manager, and network. It supports the following object-
oriented features: inheritance, polymorphism and encapsulation.
Robust
The run time system performs the necessary checks to assure the integrity of the system. There are no pointers in
Java, which makes access of arbitrary addresses in memory not possible. All memory is handled behind the scenes by the
JRE (Java Runtime Environment). It has strong typing which requires variables to be declared correctly.
Secure
Java was designed to be used in network environment that is why all security features were incorporated with the
language to prevent invasion from the outside and intrusion of unauthorized codes with malicious intents.
High Performance
The Java platform achieves superior performance by adopting a scheme by which the interpreter can run at full
speed. This makes the users perceive that interactive application respond quickly even though they are interpreted.
Interpreted
The Java interpreter can execute Java byte codes directly on any machine to which the interpreter and run-time
system have been ported.
Threaded
It has a multithreading capability that allows programmers to write applications requiring concurrent execution of
many threads. This results to the high degree of interactivity for the end user. It also has built-in synchronization
mechanisms found in the Thread class.
Dynamic
A platform is the hardware or software environment in which a program runs. The Java platform has two
components:
The J2SDK (Java 2 Sun’s Development Kit), which was originally known as the JDK (Java Development Kit), is
what you use to create programs for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE). it includes a set of command-lines tools
for creating Java applications and Applets. It also includes the JRE (Java Runtime Environment), which the environment
where the Java programs run, and set of standard Java libraries needed for Java programs.
Java Applications
o It is a Java stand alone program.
o They started in the command line.
o It has a main method where the program begins the execution.
Java Applets
o It is a program that can be downloaded over the web.
o They are started by a web browser.
o They should be embedded in an HTML file.
o It does not have a main method.
The Java Application Programming Interface (API) consists of classes created by Sun Microsystems and stored in
library files called packages. You can use these classes and write programs without knowing the details of the API, but as
you get more advanced in your programming, you will find it necessary to learn more about details of some classes.
Package Purpose
java.applet Create applets
java.awt Provides graphical components using abstract windows toolkit
java.beans Create software components
java.io Handles input and output of data
java.lang Provides core functions of the language; automatically included
java.math Handles math function, very large integers, and decimal values
java.net Provides networking
java.rmi Provides remote objects
java.security manages certificates, signatures, and other security
java.sql queries database
java.swing Provides GUI using Java Foundation Classes
java.text Manipulates text including searches
java.util Provides utilities such as dates
Comments – are not executed when the program runs. Comment lines display in coding itself and on printouts of the
source code, but they do not cause the computer to perform any given task.
1. Block comment
Begins with forward slash followed by an asterisk (/*) and ends with the symbols reversed, an asterisk
followed by a forward slash (*/)
It is used in describing larger sections of code.
2. Line comment
Is a comment that spans only a single line or part of a line.
Often called as traditional comment
It is used to described the purpose of a single command and is placed at the end of the same line as that
command
It is begin with two forwarded slashes
It is used when describing the intended meaning of the current line of the code.